Gate operating mechanism



July 24, 1951 Filed Sept. 25, 1947 H. H. HALL GATE OPERATING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet l A Trae/vir July 24, 1951 H. H. HALL 2,561,623

GATE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed sept. 2:5, 1947 2 shetS-sheet 2 INVENTOR. 54pm/HMM; Y

B @www A Trae/yer Patented July 24, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GATE OPERATING MECHANISM HarveyHiHall, Denver, Colo. Application September 23, 1947, Serial No. 7 25,692

` (c1. ssi- 7) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in means for opening and closing swinging gates.

It is customary to enclose factories, storage areas and similar places by means of high fences. Entrance to such enclosures are provided with gates that swing about vertical pivots positioned at one end. I

It is the object of this invention to provide a mechanism for opening and closing such gates from a distance so that thegate keeper may control the operation by means of a switch position adjacent his station.

Another object is to produce agate operating mechanism of such `construction thatit can be applied to gates that are already installed, without making any changes in the construction of the gates or their mode of operation.

Another object is to produce a gate operating mechanism of such a design and construction that al1 but one or two of the parts may be asf sembled at the factory and transported as a unit.

The above and any other objects that may become apparent as this description proceeds are attained by means of a construction and an arrangement of parts that will now be described in detail and for the purpose reference will be had to the accompanying drawings in which the invention has been illustrated and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a gate showing the operating mechanism in place, portions of the fence being removed to better disclose the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the operating mechanism showing portions of the gate in section, taken on line 2-2 Figure 1 Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 Figure 1 Figure 4 is a top plan View of the worm gear Figure 5 is a plan view of the brace bar;

Figures 6 and 7 are respectively a front end elevation and a bottom plan view of the support plate and Figure 8 is a View similar to that shown in Figure 2, showing a modification In the drawing reference numeral II] designates a gate post that is provided with hinge members II and I2 Which cooperate with loops I la and I2a on gate I3. The upwardly extending hinge pins form the pivot about which gate I3 swings. The gate is constructed in the usual manner and comprises a rectangular frame having one or more vertical spacer bars I4 and a brace l5. The other gate post has been designated by numeral I6.

The operating mechanism will now be de scribed:

A Support plate or bracket I1 is provided along its iront edge with a semi-cylindrical sleeve I8 from which two gusset plates I9 and 20 radiate. Sleeve `I8 has two holes for bolts 2| that serve to secure the sleeve and plate to the gate post as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Plate I1 is secured to the post at such a height that its upper surface is a short distance above the lower hinge some what asshown in Figure 1.

Two bearings 22 and 23 are secured to the upper surface of plate Il. A shaft 2d is journaled inbearings 22 and 23 and carries afworm wheel 25 anda worm 2B@ An electric motor 2l issecured to the upper surface of plate I'I and has its drive shaft provided with a Worm 28 that is positioned to mesh with worm wheel 25.

A worm wheel sector 2B, in the form of a ring, having a gap or opening 30 is positioned to encircle the gate post and is of such a diameter that its center will be positioned in the axis of pivotation. or, in other words, in a line joining hinge pivots II and-I2.

A bar 3| is provided of a length sufficient to connect the end member of the gate with the nearest vertical bar I4. Bar 3i is provided at the `left hand end, when viewed `as in Figures 1 and 5, with a transverse plate 32 that maybe secured thereto by welding. Worm `wheel sector 29 is secured toplate 32 by bolts 33, or the like, after it has been positioned about the gate post, after which bar 3| is secured to the gate and to brace bar Ill by bolts 34. Worm wheel sector 29 is positioned so that it will be in operative engagement with the worm 26 as shown in Figure 2. Plate I'I may, if desired, by provided with a projection like that designated by reference numeral 35, for supporting worm Wheel sector 29 in proper vertical position.

In Figure 8 a slightly modified form of the invention has been shown in which a single worm gear reduction has been shown. The embodiment shown in Figure 8 is better suited for small gates and with the same motor speed will operate the gate much faster.

The operation is controlled by a reversing switch like that shown in Figures 1 and 2 and designated by reference number 35.

The control circuit has not been shown because -circuits for controlling the operation of a reversible motor are old and shown in many patents in this art. Limit switches can also be provided to stop the motor when the gate has reached fully open position.

connection with the drawing it will be seen thatA the operating mechanism is very simple and rugged; that it is composed principally of' parts that can be purchased in the open market.' The,`

Worm wheel sector 29 and bar 3| being the only two members that must be manufactured special and bar 3l may be made in two parts andbeadjustable as to length.

From Figures 2 andv 8 it will be seen that the motor is positioned on the inside of the fence and the partsprotectedby a suitable cover as indicated by reference number 31a, Figure 3.

Attention is called to Figure 5 which shows that brace bar 3l isprovided-with two parallel slots 31, plate 32 has holes in register with slots 3'lfor the reception of bolts 38. Since Worm gear 29 must be carefully centeredvvithk respect to the pivot of the gate any adjustments foundl necessary can be made by movingit along bar 3l and securing it in adjusted position by bolts 38.

Having described theinvention what is claimed as new is:

l. A mechanism for use in controlling the opening and closing of gates that have one end supported by and swingingly connected with a vertical gate post; comprising a horizontal support plate connected with the gate post on the side oppositev from the gate, an annular worm wheel sector encircling the gate post and the yaxis of gate pivotation, means securing the gear to the gate in concentric relation with-the gatesA axis of pivotation, bearings mounted on the support plate, a, shaft journaled` in said bearings, a worm carried by the shaft rand positioned to mesh with the worm wheel sector, and agmotormountedvon the support plate and operativelyy connected with the shaft for rotating it, whereby, when theshaft is rotated, the worm Wheel sector and-the gate will turn about the gates; axis ofpivotation.

2. A mechanism for use in opening and lclosing gates of the type having one end swingingly connected at one end with a vertical gate post; comprising a horizontal support plate secured to the gate post above the level of the bottom of the gate, said plate being on the side of the post opposite from the gate, a worm wheel sector attached to the gate at a height greater than the height of the support plate, said worm wheel sector being positioned in aplane perpendicular to the" gates axis of pivotation and concentric therewith, bearings mounted on the support Y plate, a shaft journaled in said bearings, a Worm carried by the shaft in operative position relative to the worm wheel sector, a motor mounted on thesupport plate, and means comprising a speed reducing device transmitting rotations from the motor to the shaft.

3". A` mechanism for use in opening and closing gates of the type having one end swingingly connected with a. vertical gate post, comprising a horizontal support plate secured to the gatev post at an elevation above the bottom of the gate, said plate being positioned on the side of the gate post opposite from the gate, a worm Wheel sector attached to the gate at a height above the supf port plate, said worm Wheel sector encirclingA the gatelprost substantially concentric with the axis about which the gate swings, a motor carried by the plate, aligned bearings mounted on the plate, a shaft mounted for rotation in said bearings, means comprising a worm gear reduction for transmitting rotation from the motor to the shaft, and means interconnecting the worm wheel sector with the shaft, for turning said sector and gate about the gate pivot when the shaft is rotated.

HARVEY H. HALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following referencesare of record:y in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES lA"..ENTSy 

